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Chronicle: Taste of the 'Burgh (Health Nuts)

WTAE Chronicle Reporter Sheldon Ingram dives into the world of Vegan restaurants and food centers. See which favorite food spots have adjusted their menus to meet the dietary restrictions of Pittsburgh'ers. -- Part 10 of 12

WTAE Chronicle Reporter Sheldon Ingram dives into the world of Vegan restaurants and food centers. See which favorite food spots have adjusted their menus to meet the dietary restrictions of Pittsburgh'ers. -- Part 10 of 12

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Updated: 12:47 PM EST Mar 3, 2015

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WEBVTT WITH SLAW, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS -- WITH ALL THIS TIME EATING OUT, YOU MIGHT THINK YOU NEED TO DOUBLE YOUR TIME AT THE GYM, RIGHT? NOT NECESSARILY, HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS ARE GROWING JUST AS FAST AS THE GRASS IN YOUR NEXT GREEN SMOOTHIE. WE'RE TALKING VEGAN TO GLUTEN-FREE JUICE BARS. AND THEY POP UP SOMETIMES IN ESTABLISHMENTS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. SHELDON INGRAHAM INTRODUCES US TO RESTAURANTS THAT MIGHT LEAVE YOU FEELING LIKE A HEALTH NUT. YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF SAUCE THIS IS ON THE TACO SALAD? HERE WE GO. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME. WE'RE EATING VEGAN. BUT BEFORE WE TELL WHERE IT IS, WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT VEGAN IS. IT'S PLANT-BASED NUTRITION. NO ANIMAL MEAT OR BYPRODUCTS. IT'S REGARDED AS ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST DIETS ON THE PLANET. WE'RE DINING WITH A GROUP CALLED VEGAN PITTSBURGH. NATURALLY, THERE ARE MISPERCEPTIONS, STEREOTYPES PEOPLE HAVE. VEGAN PEOPLE ARE -- YEAH, AND THEN THE PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO WEAK OR -- LACKING IN NUTRIENTS OR UNHEALTHY. VEGAN PITTSBURGH IS A NONPROFIT GROUP USING ITS WEBSITE TO BUILD AWARENESS ABOUT VEGAN EATING OPTIONS IN PITTSBURGH. THE GROUP IS CONNECTED TO MORE THAN 50 PLACES THAT OFFER VEGAN CUISINE. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S NOT A GREAT PLACE TO BE VEGAN OR THERE'S NOTHING TO EAT HERE. PITTSBURGH HAS CHANGED A LOT. THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD PLACES TO EAT VEGAN FOOD HERE. THE VEGAN RESTAURANT, RANDY IS THE OWNER WHO STARTED SELLING VEGAN MEALS OUT OF A FOOD TRUCK TWO YEARS AGO. THE VEGAN CUISINE IS A CREATION OF ALL-AMERICAN MEALS WITH THE MEAT TAKEN OUT. HAS BECOME SO POPULAR, HAS TWO RESTAURANTS NOW. CUSTOMERS RAVE ABOUT THE FLAVOR AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS. HAVING A PLACE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY CAN NOW GO AND HAVE A DINNER THAT THEY CAN TRUST IS ON THEIR DIET PLAN IS HUGE. THEY JUST KNOW IT'S ORGANIC. THEY KNOW THAT IT'S VEGAN, THERE'S NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHATSOEVER. THEY'RE WORKING THE BELLY IN THE AMAZING CAFE. IT'S A SPINOFF FROM THE AMAZING YOGA STUDIO ON CARSON STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THIS QUAINT BUT HIP CAFE HAS A COOL MENU BOARD, BEARING INSPIRATIONAL NAMES FOR ITS DISHES. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE THE BUDDA BURGER, A DISH CALLED CURIOSITY AND ONE CALLED ABUNDANCE. SEAN CONNERILY IS THE OWNER AND YOGA INSTRUCTOR. HE SAYS THE UNIQUE BLEND OF FOOD COMBINATIONS COME FROM TRAVELS TO OTHER COUNTRIES. IT'S ORGANIC, FREE OF CHEMICALS. I THINK THE WORD'S STARTING TO GET OUT. NOT ONLY IS THE FOOD GOOD, BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAN. THEY'RE FIRING UP ABOUT VEGAN FOOD AT THE LOVING HUT. IT'S IN ROBINSON TOWNSHIP. THE LARGEST CHAIN WORLDWIDE. MOVED HERE FROM VIETNAM AND STARTED THE LOVING HUT AFTER RECEIVING ADVICE FROM A MEDITATION TEACHER. LIVE AND LET LIVE. HAVE TO RESPECT ALL LIFE. VEGAN OPTIONS ARE GROWING SO FAST IN PITTSBURGH, EVEN PLACES WITH TRADITIONAL OFFERINGS NOW HAVE VEGAN SELECTIONS. THERE'S -- IT'S A HOT DOG AND BEER STOP WITH VEGAN DOGS. DOUBLE WIDE GRILL HAS CARVED OUT AN ENTIRE MENU OF VEGAN SELECTIONS IN ALL OF ITS RESTAURANTS. PIPER'S PUB ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS OFFERING VEGAN WITH THIS BEER AND OTHER BAR FOOD. WE'LL GIVE YOU A TASTE OF THE BLACK-EYED PEAS HERE. AND THEN THERE'S THIS PLACE. GINSBURG BARBECUE. YEP, A BARBECUE JOINT GOING VEGAN. THEY STILL HAVE THEIR MEAT, BUT THE OWNER TOOK OUT SOME OF THE MEAT TO ADD SOME VEGAN FLAIR TO SOME OF HIS DISHES. VEGAN DINING OPTIONS ARE GROWING. PEOPLE WERE CATCHING ON. AND EATING IT UP. NEXT ON "CHRONICLE." I RARELY FIND MYSELF IN A GROCERY STORE ANYMORE. EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS DOWN HERE. SERVING UP FOUR-STAR CUISINE IN YOUR OWN KITCHEN? WE GO SHOPPING IN THE STRIP WITH ONE OF PITTSBURGH'S TOP CHEFS

Chronicle: Taste of the 'Burgh (Health Nuts)

WTAE Chronicle Reporter Sheldon Ingram dives into the world of Vegan restaurants and food centers. See which favorite food spots have adjusted their menus to meet the dietary restrictions of Pittsburgh'ers. -- Part 10 of 12